<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="" class="head">Das Volk</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line">WE did but smile, beholding the o'erfraught</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Sumpter, caparisoned and proud to appear</p><p class="line">The snorting charger of a Cavalier</p><p class="line">Whose joy was when his casque the sunbeam caught;</p><p class="line">And half-amused we watched the packhorse taught</p><p class="line">To caracole and curvet in the gear</p><p class="line">Of battle, and bear, through an august career,</p><p class="line">The paladin of a hundred fields unfought!</p><p class="line">But when, full war-horse now, and plunging thus</p><p class="line">About the innocent earth of France and Flanders,</p><p class="line">He foams his fury's virulent overplus</p><p class="line">On the ancient plains where rippling life meanders,</p><p class="line">Not blameless quite, this new Bucephalus!</p><p class="line">Not all the guilt, his would-be Alexander's!</p></div></body></html> · Great War